Machinist salary in Michigan
Median $25.17 an hour for 20,350 machinists, May 2025, with the union scale by county and the trend since 1999.
Machinist pay in Michigan: the full range
Michigan ranks 45th of 51 states for median machinist pay, and 47th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $26.16). 20,350 machinists work in the state.
| Career stage (approximate) | Hourly | Annual | Where it sits in the distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apprentice / entry | $18.45 – $22.24 | $38,370 – $46,260 | roughly the 10th–25th percentile |
| Journeyman | $22.24 – $29.95 | $46,260 – $62,300 | the middle half, around the median |
| Master / foreman / specialist | $29.95 – $36.22 | $62,300 – $75,330 | the 75th–90th percentile and above |
Where does your pay fall?
Machinist pay by metro in Michigan
| Metro | 10th | Median $/hr | 90th | Jobs | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flint | $18.98 | $30.22 | $38.52 | 350 | 20% above |
| Monroe | $21.70 | $28.95 | $37.02 | 210 | 15% above |
| Lansing | $19.37 | $28.78 | $37.81 | 750 | 14% above |
| Detroit | $18.58 | $28.51 | $37.85 | 7,680 | 13% above |
| Ann Arbor | $20.14 | $26.68 | $37.05 | 290 | 6% above |
| Midland | $18.58 | $26.62 | $37.15 | 50 | 6% above |
| Bay City | $18.32 | $25.37 | $32.89 | 200 | 1% above |
| Saginaw | $18.96 | $25.17 | $33.07 | 650 | about the same as |
| South Bend | $18.83 | $24.99 | $33.08 | 630 | 1% below |
| Niles | $17.90 | $24.25 | $30.43 | 530 | 4% below |
| Grand Rapids | $18.34 | $24.09 | $34.49 | 3,460 | 4% below |
| Jackson | $18.29 | $23.96 | $30.36 | 650 | 5% below |
| Kalamazoo | $19.73 | $23.77 | $36.16 | 640 | 6% below |
| Traverse City | $18.78 | $23.76 | $30.71 | 260 | 6% below |
| Battle Creek | $18.72 | $23.33 | $29.94 | 240 | 7% below |
| Muskegon | $17.39 | $23.21 | $30.48 | 530 | 8% below |
Machinist wages in Michigan over time
Table
| Year | Michigan $/hr | In 2025 $ | US $/hr | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | $13.99 | $27.03 | $14.30 | 25,990 |
| 2000 | $14.80 | $27.67 | $14.78 | 26,410 |
| 2001 | $15.60 | $28.36 | $15.43 | 23,630 |
| 2002 | $15.69 | $28.08 | $15.66 | 22,370 |
| 2003 | $17.29 | $30.25 | $15.91 | 23,280 |
| 2004 | $19.25 | $32.81 | $16.33 | 25,340 |
| 2005 | $18.95 | $31.24 | $16.51 | 27,240 |
| 2006 | $18.88 | $30.15 | $16.71 | 25,430 |
| 2007 | $17.94 | $27.86 | $16.94 | 25,430 |
| 2008 | $17.98 | $26.89 | $17.41 | 23,430 |
| 2009 | $18.61 | $27.93 | $18.10 | 20,950 |
| 2010 | $18.95 | $27.98 | $18.52 | 21,440 |
| 2011 | $20.15 | $28.84 | $18.86 | 24,750 |
| 2012 | $19.30 | $27.06 | $18.99 | 27,880 |
| 2013 | $18.62 | $25.73 | $19.03 | 27,570 |
| 2014 | $18.39 | $25.01 | $19.22 | 26,550 |
| 2015 | $19.04 | $25.86 | $19.49 | 28,200 |
| 2016 | $19.19 | $25.74 | $20.05 | 26,540 |
| 2017 | $19.35 | $25.41 | $20.48 | 26,970 |
| 2018 | $19.19 | $24.60 | $20.97 | 27,020 |
| 2019 | $20.16 | $25.39 | $21.36 | 26,600 |
| 2020 | $21.17 | $26.33 | $22.04 | 22,920 |
| 2021 | $22.53 | $26.77 | $22.95 | 22,100 |
| 2022 | $22.15 | $24.37 | $23.32 | 23,490 |
| 2023 | $22.95 | $24.25 | $24.44 | 23,720 |
| 2024 | $24.01 | $24.64 | $27.00 | 23,090 |
| 2025 | $25.17 | $25.17 | $28.24 | 20,350 |
In today's dollars, the median machinist wage in Michigan changed by -2.7% over the last ten years of data.
Is construction work growing in Michigan?
Keep comparing
Machinist pay in neighbouring states
Other trades in Michigan
Questions this page answers
How much do machinists make in Michigan?
The median machinist in Michigan earned $25.17 an hour ($52,360 a year) in May 2025, 11% below the national median of $28.24. The middle half earn $22.24–$29.95; the top 10% earn more than $36.22.
Where does Michigan rank for machinist pay?
Michigan ranks 45th of 51 states for machinist pay, with a median of $25.17 an hour, and 47th after adjusting for Michigan's cost of living (BEA price parity 96.2, US = 100).
What is the union machinist rate in Michigan?
Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a machinist classification for most Michigan counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.
How many machinists work in Michigan?
BLS counted 20,350 machinists in Michigan in May 2025, 4.6 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 2.50; 1.0 is the national average concentration).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Michigan and metro areas, SOC 51-4041.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-08.
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
- BEA Regional Price Parities (cost-of-living adjustment).
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-09-28. Not the official determination.